Illegal Arrest and Detention in the Niger Delta

Felix Tuodolo ( UK: 44-776-281- 4461) and Justus Wariya ( USA: 713-320-7344)

The Ijaws in Diaspora are concerned and seriously disturbed by recent news report of the arrest and detention of five humanitarian workers and human rights activists by the military Joint Task Force (JTF) of Nigeria in the Niger Delta region on Saturday April 12, 2008. The arrested persons by the JTF in Warri North LGA in Oghara, include four Americans of the Sweet Crude film documentary (Sandy Cioffi, Tammi Sims, Cliff Worsham and Sean Porter) and a Nigerian (Joel Bisina) of the Niger Delta Professionals for Development, are credible persons that have been known to be working on the issues of the Niger Delta and contributing to the peaceful resolution of the Niger Delta problem for some years.

The four Americans are cinematographers who produced a documentary on the suffering of the Niger Delta peoples. We have also been informed that since the arrest the detainees have been kept incommunicado from their family and colleagues.  By this action the JTF and the government of Nigeria are further tarnishing the image of Nigeria in the international arena and rendering useless our efforts of several years at repositioning the country and rebuilding our battered image.

However, one point that is clear from this action is that the government has skeletons in its cupboard with respect to the Niger Delta. What is the government hiding that it does not want the rest of the world to know? Is the Niger Delta under an undeclared illegal state of emergency that curtails individuals’ right to freedom of movement? Is it the over four-decades of deprivation, marginalization and mismanagement of the natural resources of the Niger Delta people that government wants to further hide?  This act is a further suppression of the agitations of the Niger Delta people. We hereby state categorically that nothing will stop the struggle of the Niger Delta for justice and fairness, as the Ijaws in the Diaspora will continue to mobilize the international community whenever the rights of their people are infringed upon.

We therefore call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately release the five arrested persons to save the country from further international ridicule, and focus more efforts at finding solutions to the Niger Delta problem and bring peace to the area rather than actively suppressing the agitations of the people for justice. We also urge the American government to utilize established channels to facilitate the immediate release of these innocent persons.

Contacts: UK, Ijaw National Congress Europe Chairman Felix Tuodolo (44-776-281- 4461) or USA, Ijaw National Congress North America Chairman Justus Wariya (713-320-7344

Robot  # 1 | 14.04.2008 17:20

Illegal Arrest an...Read the full article.

Biokpoige  # 2 | 14.04.2008 23:40

After reading about this story online I did believe the story, They never say the people arrested were The four Americans are cinematographers who produced a documentary on the suffering of the Niger Delta peoples. And there names was not release. I guess they don't want the world to know how our people are leaving.I bet if they were documenting this @ G RA or Abuja all will be fine. Biokpoige

RAYNOSA  # 3 | 15.04.2008 06:03

I have always questioned the kind of democracy we practice in NIGERIA. Were is the freedom of speech and movement,yet we have people jubilating over some election tribunal judgement.What nonsense. Its time for all well meaning NIGER-DELTIANS to stand against these injustice.

ebiasain  # 4 | 15.04.2008 19:33

One way we can stand against the injustice is to publicise our struggle all over the world the best way we can. Secondly, to make sure that fighting is not confined only to the Niger Delta, that the instability impacts other regions. Thirdly, we must find ways for our politicians to feel the misery of the creeks. Until we expand the scope of our resistance, until the message is sent loud and clear, that the struggle will be taken to its logical conclusion, those at the helm of the Nigerian state will never take us seriously. Remember, power is only sensitive to those who are doggedly determined to make her life miserable and uncomfortable. That, is the inherent nature of power.